[A preliminary study on burrow ecology of Manis pentadactyla]

A total of 61 pangolin(Manis pentadactyla) burrows at Dawuling Natural Reserve were recorded and measured from June 2000 to May 2001, and 40 of them were dissected. The results indicated that all the burrows were blind without branch. The long diameter of entrance was 14.20 +/- 2.79 cm(n = 61), and the short one was 12.50 +/- 2.83 cm(n = 61). These burrows could be divided into two types, i.e., winter burrows and summer burrows. Winter burrows were relatively deeper(1.44 +/- 0.73 m, n = 28), and summer burrows were relatively shallower (0.32 +/- 0.11 m, n = 12). The soil in burrows was usually soft, damp and thick, with a thick surface layer of organic matter. The main motive of digging burrows was to prey on termites, hibernate, rest, breed, hide, and defense. The mean residing duration of pangolin in a burrow was 12.25 +/- 2.25 d. Pangolin rarely utilized the used burrows, and the reutilization rate of used burrows was only 8.33%. The surroundings factors of 61 burrows were recorded, and divided into 9 categories and 27 subcategories. According to the occurrence frequency of each factor and the cluster analysis results of 61 burrows, the habitat selection of pangolin was discussed, which showed that pangolin preferred creating burrows at the sites with weak human disturbance (distance from disturbance source beyond 1,000 m), steep slope(30 degrees-60 degrees), half sunny and half shady slope, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, moderate elevation(760-1,500 m), good hiding conditions at entrance(full cover or partial cover), middle or lower slope location, and easily accessing to water source(distance from water source within 500 m). Pangolin was averse to establish burrows at the habitats with shady slope, poor hiding condition at entrance(bare), sharp steeper(> 60 degrees) or gentle (< 30) slope, higher elevation (over 1,500 m), and coniferous forest. Pangolin preferred south facing, and strongly avoided north facing entrance.